Air or gas-powered gun

ABSTRACT

It comprises a frame ( 10 ) bearing a compressed air/gas reservoir ( 11 ) connected to an assembly of valve ( 12 ) operated by a hammer ( 13 ) striking the said valve slide ( 31 ), a trigger ( 14 ) operating the said hammer, a tilting assembly ( 15 ) on the frame comprising a barrel ( 16 ) and a detachable, rotating, cylindric loading clip ( 17 ) with a plurality of recesses for a projectile. Means for step by step rotating the loading clip ( 17 ) are mounted on the frame ( 10 ) comprising a first set of levers connected to each other, one of them being linked to the trigger ( 14 ) and another linked to the loading clip ( 17 ) when the tilting assembly ( 15 ) is in firing position. It includes means for locking the movement of the trigger ( 14 ) immobilizing a member of the said first set of levers when the said tilting set ( 15 ) is in loading position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention refers to an air or gas-powered gun, of the kind comprising a pivoting barrel which in firing position is aligned with the outlet of a delivery valve connected to a compressed air or gas reservoir, a hammer for operating the said delivery valve actuated by a trigger, a detachable cylindric loading clip, interposed between the said valve outlet and the barrel, provided with several recesses for holding projectiles, and means associated to the said trigger in order to step by step rotate the said loading clip to align each of the said recesses with the barrel at the moment of firing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,795 discloses a gun of this kind in which the said barrel and the said detachable cylindric loading clip are arranged on a tilting assembly hinged with respect to a frame. The said tilting assembly in addition includes a set of levers constituting the said means for step by step rotating the loading clip. The tilting assembly is provided with a movement between an open loading position, in which the said loading clip is accessible and a closed firing position in which the barrel is aligned with a recess of the loading clip and with the said outlet of the air or gas delivery valve, and in which a lever of the said set of levers of the step by step rotating means is coupled with a part of the trigger.

[0003] The hammer is pivotingly mounted between a cocked position and a firing position, and it is elastically loaded for striking a slide of the delivery valve, this later leaving thus that an amount of compressed air or gas is allowed to pass which is sufficient for impelling a projectile from the loading clip through the barrel. The hammer is cocked by the trigger, which has associated a link comprising a groove which is coupled to a protruding roller mounted on the hammer bottom. When the trigger is pressed, the said link is moved backwards and rotates the hammer against the elastic strength, hammering it. The hammer includes a cam which, when exceeding a given hammering angle, lifts the link, releasing the said elastic strength accumulated in the hammer so that this later wildly rotates towards the valve slide for firing.

[0004] Mounted hinged on the link, there is a safety part which prevents that the hammer strikes the said valve slide if the trigger has not been previously operated. That part, when the trigger is pressed and the link is moving backwards, is lifted to be interposed between the hammer head and the valve slide transmitting the hammer striking power to the valve. When the trigger is not pressed, the said safety part is not interposed and the hammer head does not achieve its slide striking.

[0005] A drawback shown by the said gun consists in the fact that the loading clip step by step rotating mechanism is mounted on the tilting assembly, as it adds complexity to the said assembly and increases the likelihood that unwanted misalignments occur. To prevent them, the gun disclosed requires providing the trigger with a linear travel and including an appendage integral with the trigger designed to secure the correct alignment of related projectile holding recess with the barrel at the moment of firing when the said appendage is inserted in grooves located on the cylindric wall of the loading clip.

[0006] On the other hand, the gun disclosed lack a safety which prevents that the trigger is operated when the tilting assembly is in an open loading position therefore a useless expense of compressed air or gas and the mechanisms idle operation would be prevented.

[0007] To overcome above drawbacks, an object of this invention is to provide a gun of this kind in which the step by step rotating mechanism of the loading clip is mounted on the frame thereof.

[0008] Another object of this invention is to provide a gun of this kind which has a safety device preventing to actuate the trigger when the tilting assembly is in open loading position.

[0009] Eventually, another object of this invention is to provide a gun of this kind in which a safety device for preventing a casual shot without the trigger having been actuated comprises a mechanism independent from the mechanism of the hammer being cocked by the trigger.

SHORT EXPLANATION THE INVENTION

[0010] Above purposes are achieved, according to this invention, by providing an air or gas powered gun comprising a frame supporting a compressed air or gas reservoir connected to an assembly of delivery valve operated by a hammer striking a slide of the said valve. On the said frame there is mounted a trigger provided with a pivoting movement between a resting position and a firing position, the said trigger can actuate the said hammer. Mounted hinged on the said frame there is a tilting assembly provided with a movement between an open loading position and a closed firing position, the said tilting assembly comprising a barrel and a detachable cylindric loading clip rotatably mounted with respect to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the said barrel, the said loading clip being provided with a plurality of recesses holding a projectile.

[0011] Mounted on one part of the said frame, with respect to which the said tilting assembly bearing the barrel and the loading clip is hinged, there is provided means of step by step rotation of the loading clip associated to the said movement of the said trigger to step by step rotate the said loading clip for aligning one of the said recesses holding a projectile with the barrel at the moment of firing. The said step by step rotating means comprise a first set of levers functionally connected to each other, one of the said levers being linked to the trigger and another of the said levers being linked to the loading clip when the tilting assembly is at its said firing position.

[0012] The gun of this invention includes means constituting a locking safety for locking the said movement of the trigger by immobilizing a member of the said first set of levers when the said tilting assembly is at referred open loading position in which there exists an access to the said loading clip. The said locking means are released by the action of the tilting assembly when the tilting assembly is located at its closed firing position, in which the barrel and a related recess holding a projectile of the loading clip are aligned with the said outlet of the said assembly of air compressed delivery valve.

[0013] The gun of this invention in addition comprises safety means for preventing the said hammer strikes the slide of the valve without the trigger has been operated, the said safety means comprising a safety part functionally connected to the trigger through a second set of levers, the said safety part remaining in a position interposed between the said valve slide and the hammer, transmitting the strength of the impact thereof, when the trigger is in its firing position, and the said safety part is withdrawn from the said intermediate position when the trigger is in its resting position, so that an eventual impact of the hammer does not reach the valve slide. These safety means allow the hammer direct cocking independently from the trigger, and are useful for preventing a fortuitous shot when the hammer, being cocked, is accidentally released, for example when it is hurt because of a fall, so that the said safety means are usually called “fall safety”.

SHORT EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] These and other characteristics shall be best understood from the following detailed description of a preferred example of embodiment, which is provided for mere illustrative and not limitative purpose, with reference to the drawings appended, in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an air or gas-powered gun according to this invention from which have been eliminated or are indicated by means of a broken line outline, several structural elements in order to only show the different mechanisms related to the invention, which are at a resting position;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a part side elevation view of the gun of FIG. 1 with the said mechanisms in a position immediately prior to the firing position:

[0017]FIG. 3 is a three quarters front top view in perspective of the gun of FIG. 1 from which some parts have been withdrawn or partly sectioned for best showing the step by step rotating mechanisms, locking safety of the trigger at the loading open position and safety against falls;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a three quarters rear top view in perspective of the gun of FIG. 1 from which some parts have been withdrawn or partly sectioned for best showing the step by step rotating mechanisms, locking safety device of the trigger at the open loading position and fall safety device; and

[0019]FIGS. 5 and 6 are three quarters rear lower views in perspective of the gun of FIG. 1 with the tilting assembly in closed firing position, and in the open loading position, respectively, showing some parts sectioned or withdrawn for best showing the operation of the safety device for locking the trigger at the open loading position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the gun of this invention comprises a frame 10 comprising a part of handle 50, a part of barrel 51 and a housing for the trigger 52. At the said handle part 50 of the frame 10 there is mounted an air or other compressed gas reservoir 11 connected to an assembly of delivery valve 12 for the said air or gas actuated by a hammer 13 striking the valve slide 31 which protrudes from the rear end of the said valve assembly 12. The operation of this valve assembly 12 is conventional, therefore its explication will be omitted from this specification. The said hammer 13 is tiltingly mounted on the said frame 10 and is provided with a movement between a cocked position, shown in FIG. 2 and a resting or firing position, shown in FIG. 1 and is elastically loaded by a spring 40. A retaining catch 42 loaded by a spring 53 can be locked in a groove 43 of the bottom of the hammer 13 for holding it in the said cocked position.

[0021] In the said housing of the trigger 52 of the frame 10 a trigger 14 is rotatably mounted, elastically loaded by a spring 41 and provided with a movement between a resting position, shown in FIG. 1 and a firing position, shown in FIG. 2, the said trigger 14 actuates the said hammer 13 through a mechanism, not shown, located at the opposite side of the one shown in the figures and releases the previously cocked hammer 13 displacing the said retaining catch 42.

[0022] On the said part of the barrel 51 of the frame 10 is mounted, hinged a tilting assembly 15 provided with a movement between an open loading position shown in FIG. 6 and a closed firing position shown in FIG. 5. The said tilting assembly 15 comprises a barrel 15 and a detachable cylindric loading clip 17 rotatably mounted with respect to an axis (49) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the said barrel 16, the said loading clip 17 being provided with a plurality of recesses 18 holding a projectile (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 6) and ratchet teeth 27 annularly arranged on a front face thereof. The tilting assembly 15 rotates about an axis 45 transversal to the longitudinal axis of the barrel located at the end of the said frame 10 distal from the valve assembly 12, these means being provided with latch means 46 (FIGS. 5 and 6) for keeping the tilting assembly 15 at its firing position or allowing its opening.

[0023]FIG. 6 shows a pivot 49 located at the free end of the tilting assembly on which the loading clip 17 is placed and rotates. At a given distance from the pivot 49 there is an elastically loaded stub 48, which is successively coupled to each of a plurality of notches 54 axially arranged on an external cylindric wall of the loading clip 17, guaranteeing with it the accurateness of the said alignment of each recess 18 of the loading clip 17 with the barrel mouth 16 at the moment of firing.

[0024] On one part of the said frame 10 comprised between the rotating axis 45 of the tilting assembly 15 and the valve assembly 12 are mounted step by step rotating means associated to the said movement of the said trigger 14 to step by step rotate the said loading clip 17 in order to align one of the said recesses 18 holding a projectile with the barrel 16. The said step by step rotating means comprise a first set of levers, functionally connected to each other, one of the said levers being linked to the trigger 14, another of the said levers 17 being linked to the loading clip 17 when the tilting assembly 15 is at the said firing position.

[0025]FIGS. 3 and 4 clearly show the said first set of levers, which comprises a trigger lever 20 integral with the said trigger 14, the said trigger lever 20 moving a slide 22 linearly guided on the said frame 10 in a direction parallel to the direction of the barrel in firing position, and which has shaped at one distal end of the trigger, an inclined plane 23 which cooperates with a cam 24 located at a first end of a lever 25 hinged by its middle area with respect to the said frame 10 through an axis 47 transversal to the direction of the barrel in firing position and perpendicular to the hinge pin 45 of the tilting assembly 15. At a second end of the lever 25, opposite to the said first end, there is provided a driving finger 26, elastically loaded, which may be coupled to the said teeth 27 annularly arranged on the said front face of the loading clip 17 when the tilting assembly 15 is in firing position, so that when passing the trigger 14 from its resting position to its firing position, the trigger bar 20 pushes the slide 22 moving it forwards with which the said inclined plane 23 displaces the said cam 24 making the lever 25 tilts and provoking a displacement of the said driving finger 26 which is coupled with one of the said teeth 27 making the loading clip 17 rotates for locating the following recess 18 holding a projectile at a position aligned with the barrel 16.

[0026] The gun of this invention in addition includes locking means for locking the said movement of the trigger 14 by immobilizing a member of the said first set of levers when the said tilting assembly 15 is at mentioned open loading position in which there is an access to the said trigger 17, the said locking means are released by the action of the tilting assembly 15 when the tilting assembly 15 is located at its closed firing position, in which the barrel 16 and a related recess 18 holding a projectile of the loading clip 17 remain aligned with the said outlet of the said assembly of compressed air delivery valve 12.

[0027] The said locking means comprise a locking part 28 slidingly mounted on the said frame 10 on a direction substantially perpendicular to the hinge pin 45 of the said tilting assembly 15, the said locking part 28 is elastically loaded and comprises a stop configuration 29, and a top protrusion 30 which can be coupled to a lower area of the tilting assembly 15. Thus, when the tilting assembly 15 is at its loading position (see FIG. 6), the top protrusion 30 is free of contact with it, therefore the said elastic load keeps the locking part 28 at a lifted position so that the said stop configuration 29 remains facing the end of the said slide 22, preventing the displacement thereof and with it the action of the trigger 14. On the contrary, when the tilting assembly 15 is in its firing position, as it is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and specially in FIG. 5, the top protrusion 30 is pushed by the tilting assembly 15, which downwardly moves the locking part 28 withdrawing the stop 29 from the front of the slide 22 end, allowing to displace this latter and with it the action of the trigger 14.

[0028] The gun according to the invention also comprises safety means for preventing that the said hammer 13 strikes the valve slide 31 without the trigger 14 has been operated the said safety means comprise a safety part 14 functionally connected to the trigger 14 through a second set of levers, the said safety part 19 remaining in a position interposed between the said valve slide 31 and the hammer 13, transmitting the strength of the impact thereof when the trigger 14 is in its firing position. The said safety part 19 remains withdrawn from the said intermediate position when the trigger 14 is in its resting position, so that an eventual impact of the hammer 14 does not reach the valve slide 31.

[0029]FIG. 4 clearly shows the said second set of levers for operating the fall safety device, which comprises a trigger bar 20 integral with the said trigger 14, the said trigger bar 20 moving an arm 32 connected through a tie bar 34 with a rocker 33 tiltably mounted on the frame 10 in a position at the rear and under the valve slide 31 and under the path of a head 39 of the hammer 13. The said rocker 33 tilts according to an axis 44 transversal to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, by the effect of the displacement of the said tie bar 34. On the rocker 33 there is hingingly mounted the said safety part 19 so that it moves in a direction substantially transversal to the axis of the barrel in the firing position by virtue of the said tilting movement of the rocker 33.

[0030] The safety part 19 has a circular cross section and is C-shaped, comprising an hinging portion 35 mounted so that it can rotate within a hole 36 of the said rocker 33, a linking portion 37 and a head portion 38 which is placed in or withdrawn from the said position interposed between the valve slide 31 and the hammer 13 when the trigger 14 is in its firing or resting position, respectively. The said circular section of the head portion secures the perpendicular transmission of the said strength of the hammer 13 impact to the valve slide 31.

[0031] The gun of this invention comprises, in addition to the safety devices disclosed, a shot safety having a conventional operation, which is operated by means of a lever 49 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 6) which has, as usual, a first position in which any firing possibility is locked and a second position in which firing is allowed. 

1. Air or gas-powered gun, of the kind comprising a frame (10) bearing a compressed air or gas reservoir connected to an air or gas delivery valve (12) operated by a hammer (13) striking a valve slide (31), a trigger (14) mounted on the said frame (10) and provided with a movement between a resting position and a firing position, the said trigger (14) being able to operate the said hammer (13), a tilting assembly (15) mounted hinged on the said frame (10) and provided with a movement between an open loading position and a closed firing position, the said tilting assembly (15) comprising a barrel (16) and a detachable cylindric loading clip (17) rotatably mounted with respect to an axis (49) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the said barrel (16), the said loading clip (17) being provided with a plurality of recesses (18) holding a projectile, step by step rotating means being provided associated to the said movement of the said trigger (14) to step by step rotate the said loading clip (17) for aligning one of the said recesses (18) holding a projectile with the barrel (16), characterized in that: the said step by step rotating means are mounted on a part of the said frame (10) with respect to which the said tilting assembly (15) is hinged, bearing the barrel (16) and the loading clip (17) and comprise a first set of levers functionally connected to each other, one of the said levers being linked to the trigger (14), the other of the said levers being linked to the loading clip (17) when the tilting assembly (15) is at its mentioned firing position; and in that it includes means constituting a locking safety device for locking the said movement of the trigger (14) by immobilizing a member of the said first set of levers when the said tilting assembly (15) is at mentioned open loading position in which there exists an access to the said loading clip (17).
 2. Gun according to claim 1, characterized in that the said means constituting a locking safety device are released by the action of the tilting assembly (15) when the tilting assembly (15) is located at its closed firing position, in which the barrel (16) and a corresponding recess (18) holding a projectile of the loading clip (17) remains aligned with the said outlet of the said assembly of the compressed air delivery valve (12).
 3. Gun, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises safety means for preventing that the said hammer (13) strikes the said valve slide (31) without the trigger (14) is operated, the said safety means comprising a safety aport (19) functionally connected to the trigger (14) through a second set of levers, the said safety part (19) remaining at a position interposed between the said valve slide (31) and the hammer (13), transmitting the impact strength thereof, when the trigger (14) is at its firing position, and the said safety part (19) remains withdrawn from the said intermediate position when the trigger (14) is at its resting position, so that an eventual impact of the hammer (14) does not reach the valve slide (31).
 4. Gun according to claim 2, characterized in that the said first set of levers comprises a trigger bar (20) integral with the said trigger (14), the said trigger bar (20) displacing a slide (22) linearly guided on the said frame (10) in a direction parallel to the direction of the barrel in the firing position, and which has shaped at a distal end of the trigger, an inclined plane (23) cooperating with a cam (24) located at a first end of a lever (25) hinged at its middle area with respect to the said frame (10) through an axis (47) transversal to the direction of the barrel at the firing position, and it is provided at a second end opposite to the said first end of the said lever (25) an elastically loaded driving finger (26) which can be coupled in teeth (27) annularly arranged on a front face of the loading clip (17) when the tilting assembly (15) is at its firing position, so that when the trigger (14) passes from its resting position to its firing position, the trigger bar (20) pushes the slide (22) moving it forwards so that the said inclined plane (23) moves the said cam (24) making the lever (25) be tilted and provoking that the said driving finger (26) is coupled with one of the said teeth (27) rotating the loading clip (17) for locating the following recess (18) holding a projectile at a position aligned with the barrel (16).
 5. Gun according to claim 4, characterized in that the said means constituting a locking safety device for locking the said movement of the trigger (14) when the said tilting assembly (15) is at the open loading position comprise a locking part (28) slidingly mounted on the said frame (10) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the hinge pin (45) of the said tilting assembly (15), the said locking part being elastically loaded and comprising a stop configuration (29) which remains facing the end of the said slide (22) preventing its displacement, when the tilting assembly (15) is at its open loading position and a top protrusion (30) which is pushed by the tilting assembly (15) when this later is at its closed firing position, downwardly displacing the locking part (28) withdrawing the said stop configuration (29) from the front of the slide end (22) allowing its displacement and with it the action of the trigger (14).
 6. Gun according to claim 3, characterized in that the said second set of levers comprises a trigger bar (20) integral with the said trigger (14) the said trigger bar (20) displacing an arm (32) connected through a tie bar (34) with a rocker (33) tiltably mounted on the frame (10) in a position at the rear and under the valve slide (31) and under the path of a head (39) of the hammer (13), the said rocker (33) tilting by the effect of the displacement of the said tie bar (34) and on which rocker (33) there is hingingly mounted the said safety part (19) so that it moves in a direction substantially transversal to the axis of the barrel in the firing position by virtue of the rocker (33) tilting movement.
 7. Gun according to claim 6, characterized in that the said safety part has a circular cross section and is C-shaped, comprising an hinging portion (35) mounted so that it can rotate within a hole (36) of the said rocker (33), a linking portion (37) and a head portion (38) which is placed in or withdrawn from the said position interposed between the valve slide (31) and the hammer (13) when the trigger (14) is in its firing or resting position, respectively.
 8. Gun, according to claim 1, characterized in that an elastically loaded stub (48) is located at the free end of the tilting assembly (15), separated in parallel at a given distance from the said rotating axis (49) of the loading clip (17) the said stub (48) being subsequently coupled in each of a plurality of notches (54) axially arranged on an external cylindric wall of the loading clip (17), guaranteeing with it an accurate alignment of each of the said recesses (18) of the loading clip (17) with the mouthpiece of the barrel (16). 